Durban - CraftFest, brought to you by The Independent on Saturday and Shongweni Farmers and Craft Market, is on the horizon, and set to be the hot ticket for the April long weekend.
We’ve already brought you some of the brewers, so this week we introduce you to the crafters.
Expect interesting clothes, from outfits for tots to specialised plus-size garments. Think funky shorts or quirky hats or African shirts.
Also featuring at CraftFest will be decor with ceramicists, glass blowers, wood turners and artists showcasing their wares. There will be traders in retro and vintage collectibles, and a selection of hand-crafted jewellery. Posh Paws even make stylish dog bowls.
The Independent on Saturday spoke to four local crafters who will be exhibiting to give you a taste of what to expect.
Gabriella Westerbrook has been designing and making bespoke women’s clothing for 30 years, but it was only six years ago that she designed a children’s ready-to-wear range.
And it has been a huge success at the Shongweni market every Saturday.
“With ladies’ clothing, it’s what the clients want, but with children, it’s all my fantasy and I really can have fun,” said Westerbrook.
“Plus I had all these smaller pieces of fabric left over.”
She designs her own patterns and does all her own cutting for the garments, which are hand-made.
“I love the market vibe, I absolutely love what I do.”
For Rose Renney, crafting involves upcycling. She scours second-hand shops, auctions and charity shops for vintage lace, doilies and fabrics, and creates beautiful modern and decorative garments from these. Think dream catchers, handbags, jackets and even doily roses.
Renney has been in arts and crafts all her life, and is a skilled potter. She began her current line when moving from Johannesburg two years ago.
“This is my favourite so far,” she says. “I see a piece of lace and it talks to me and I do my thing. Everything has a history. It might be frills for a jacket or handbag. I make roses out of the leftovers as I don’t want to waste.
“I might make handbags out of table runners, and line them with vintage linens, or even make something modern from an old wedding dress.” she says.
Michael Thompson started out engraving kegs for the Standeaven Brewery. “It was Keith Standeaven who saw my work and said it was amazing,” said Thompson.
He was involved in the laser-cutting side of his father’s woodworking and furniture factory. Today he crafts an array of beautiful household objects from wood, using laser cutting to make them both decorative and functional.
So a humble Lazy Susan has its mechanism inset into the board so it sits flat and won’t topple over. He does bread boards with cut-outs for dip bowls and meat. “Even logs from trees – we can slice them up and make beautiful custom bowls or boards,” he says.
The use of a CNN writer and laser printer allows the imprint of text or design on to the finished products. “One of our popular products is rhinos etched into the shape of Africa,” he says.
See Also:
https://www.iol.co.za/ios/arts/the-art-of-the-craft-fest-13690572
https://www.iol.co.za/ios/arts/pouring-in-at-craftfest-14402322
https://www.iol.co.za/ios/arts/craftfest-chill-to-cool-sounds-14493962
Colleen Mossman designs and has hand made a range of beautiful shoes, boots and bags under her Blu Betty label, and has been a regular at the Shongweni market for years.
It all started when she wanted artisanal leather shoe products that were fashion driven and showed off the natural earthy colours of the leather. “Blu Betty isn’t run-of-the-mill shoes,” she says.
“It’s distinctive and individual with a touch of quirk and a retro feel. The classics we keep, but every season we introduce new styles.” She also makes boots and handbags, with a laptop bag on the cards.
So now that we’ve whet your appetite, pay CraftFest a visit.
- Save the date: CraftFest is on April 29 at the Shongweni Farmers and Craft Market from 10am to 4pm. Tickets: R100 adults, prebooked; R50 children 12-17; under 12 free. Book through Quicket at www.quicket.co.za. Tickets R120 at the gate. Like our Facebook at www.facebook.com/CraftFestIOS.